Corporate Governance

What is Corporate Governance?

Corporate governance is about the systems, processes, the cultures and values by which local government bodies are directed and controlled and through which they engage with, and are held accountable to their communities and stakeholders.

Cheshire West and Chester Council is committed to the principles of effective corporate governance and has therefore adopted a Code of Corporate Governance which follows the latest guidance issued by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) and the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE), entitled ‘Delivering Good Governance in Local Government (2016)’.

The guidance defines the seven core principles, each supported by sub-principles that should underpin the governance framework of a local authority.

• Core Principle 1 - Behaving with integrity, demonstrating strong commitment to ethical values and respecting the rules of law.
• Core Principle 2 - Ensuring openness and comprehensive stakeholder engagement.
• Core Principle 3 - Defining outcomes in terms of sustainable economic, social and environmental benefits.
• Core Principle 4 - Determining the interventions necessary to optimise the achievement of the intended outcomes.
• Core Principle 5 - Developing the Council's capacity, including the capability of its leadership and the individuals within it.
• Core Principle 6 - Managing risks and performance through robust internal control and strong public financial management.
• Core Principle 7 - Implementing good practices in transparency, reporting and audit, to deliver effective accountability.

What are the benefits of having a Code of Corporate Governance?

Good governance leads to good management, good performance, good stewardship of public money, good public engagement and ultimately good outcomes for citizens and service users. It enables the Council to pursue its vision of helping the borough to thrive effectively as well as underpinning that vision with mechanisms for control and the management of risk.

Cheshire West and Chester Council has a robust governance framework in place. The documents and arrangements which comprise the framework are set out below and demonstrate that the Council continually seeks to ensure it is and remains, well governed, through integration with the core principles of the CIPFA/SOLACE framework into all aspects of the Council’s conduct and operation.

The Director of Governance is responsible for ensuring the Code is reviewed annually, and the outcome of the review, along with adoption of any revision to the Code is reported annually to the Audit and Governance Committee for approval.

This latest version of the Code of Corporate Governance was approved by Audit and Governance Committee on 13 June 2017.